"Wakey wakey, rise and shine Ms Quinn," said Lars as the curtains automatically opened letting in some light. It was already morning but the sun hadn't yet risen.
Quinn who lay across two chairs with her arms crossed on her chest half opened her eyes as she slowly sat up. For a moment she had no idea where she was but the ache in her neck and the left side of her lower back quickly reminded her where she was.
With a jolt, she opened her eyes her vigilance at its peak as she scrutinized the fashionable young man standing in front of her with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.
"Today is your lucky day. You will be leaving this fine mansion intact now get the fuck up. This isn't a hotel," he said before turning to leave.
Normally Quinn would wash the mouth of anyone who dared to speak to her like that with soap but she knew she was in the wrong thus she could only swallow that grievance down. The fact that she could walk out of this without a single piece of hair missing was good but also terrifying.
She knew that man wasn't so benevolent. That wasn't in line with his reputation. The man was known to hold grudges and his retaliation was always tenfold. Rumour had it that he forced a person to eat ice cream scoop after scoop until the person couldn't stomach it anymore vomiting all over the floor just because that person had constantly bought out his favourite flavour at the small campus store when they were still in university just to piss him off.
Fine, it was just a rumour but if it was true then that man was most definitely petty as fuck. So yes, she knew that one way or the other she was going to have to pay for it. She didn't know when, she didn't know how but she was definitely going to pay.
When they reached the bottom of the stairs, Quinn spotted the man sitting with his back straight while eating breakfast. He was prim and proper from head to toe his hair neatly combed with no single strand out of place.
Everything about him spelt perfection. He was like an immortal exiled from heaven for causing so much trouble with that gorgeous face, flawless skin and pearly white teeth.
'F*ck,' she swore internally after getting caught staring. He was too neat and stiff to be her type but he was still so nice to look at. He was like that male model posing for a posh cologne ad. One would take a few innocent glances but they wouldn't necessarily want to date them.
Leif glanced at her briefly before averting his gaze and carrying on eating his breakfast like she wasn't even there.
Quinn who was hungover from drinking a lot last night suddenly felt the sharp pains of hunger after having smelt the food but by the looks of it, Leif didn't mean to invite her not that she would want to join him anyway.
She might not be interested in the delicious omelette set on the table but her stomach was most definitely interested. The sound of her growling stomach filled the room causing the two people to stare at her.
Quinn, "…"
Lars smirked finding this quite amusing. With a clank, Leif dropped his cutlery and said, "You are free to go."
Quinn who was so embarrassed that the tips of her ears turned red appeared surprised. She was in so much disbelief that for a moment she felt like her ears weren't working right.
"What?"
Nah, something was fishy about this. There was no way this man would let her walk out of that door with no repercussions for her actions. She was indeed right. His next words proved her right.
"Seeing that I was generous enough not to send you to the police, you owe me," he said his chin resting on his interlocked fingers.
And there it was. Leif didn't disappoint. She stared at him for a moment before asking, "What do you want?" As long as it wasn't killing someone she was willing to do it and wash clean of this debt.
"Lars get Ms Quinn a cab," said Leif acting like he hadn't heard her question.
"Sure thing," replied Lars before turning to her gesturing with his hands the direction she should go, "This way Ms Quinn."
Quinn took a few steps in that direction but when she recalled the location of this neighbourhood and how far it was from her place she took a step back and said.
"May I trouble you a little more? I am kind of short on cab fare. Would you mind borrowing me some money for it? I will pay you back."
Lars, "…"
This woman was indeed actively seeking death. She was constantly stepping on landmines from the moment she jumped over that wall. The fact that his cousin was still tolerating it meant she had something very valuable otherwise she might have already lost a few fingers.
Leif was a little surprised but he didn't show it. He just nodded his head at Lars and the man immediately understood.
"Thank you. I will definitely pay you back," she said her tone genuine and sincere but Leif didn't respond. He picked up his cup of black coffee and took a small sip.
As soon as that person left Leif clenched his jaw while lightly tapping the table. He was even more irritated than last night. She didn't remember him despite using him as a servant for two years. For two freaking years, she had bossed him around yet she didn't even remember him. Had he changed that much?
He laughed angrily at himself before carelessly tossing the napkin on the table and getting up. Now that she had willingly flown into his cage he would never let her off. He would get back at her for those two years one way or another.
Quinn felt a chill run down her back as she stepped outside into the twilight. A cool breeze swept past her going up her dress but it wasn't as cold as her back. It was as though a beast was stalking her in the darkness waiting for the perfect opportunity to catch her and lock her up in a little black room.